The horrifying video of a bounce house being picked up by a small tornado and tossed in the air on Fort Lauderdale Beach is going viral. And it raises many questions -- including if the bounce house was properly tethered down? And what, if any, regulations are required to be followed?
Monday's accident is being called an "act of God," the result of a waterspout coming ashore and sending that bounce house into the air.
Omar Ferguson's daughter was inside and was injured after falling from the airborne bounce house.
"It's just an accident you know what I'm saying? They went out there to enjoy themselves, but things happen," Ferguson said.
It's not the first time high winds have caused inflatables to go airborne. There have been instances from Colorado to New York.
A recent study shows there have been more than 113,000 injuries nationwide in the past decade.
Clinton Jones owns All Star Bounce in Oakland Park. "If it's properly put down it shouldn't move," he said.
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Unlike other states, there are no regulations in Florida as to how they are used.
Jones follows international guidelines at his business but right now they are not required. He is trying to make them mandatory for every business in Florida.
"And hopefully we can get them approved," Jones said.
If a bounce house is set up on the grass, they should be anchored down with stakes at least 15 inches long. If it is set up on cement, they have to be anchored down with heavy sandbags.
In Monday's case in Fort Lauderdale, the inflatable was set up on the concrete basketball court. Police are still investigating if it was anchored down properly.
"Bounce houses are safe if installed properly," Jones said. But if you start to see the trees swaying above you, he said it's time to let the air out.
"People are just not using common sense and parents should know if winds are above 15 miles-per-hour they should deflate and get out."
NBC 6 called the company in charge of the bounce house in Monday's incident, All Star Events, which has a contract with the city that is set to expire next week. The person who answered the phone said they have no comment.
